Chapter 544
Oliver grew suspicious of the two men's unusual behavior. He was in charge of the negotiations and had already declared them concluded. Why, then, were they trying to intercept Victor? He suspected a hidden motive.
Since Oliver had assumed command only after the recapture of the Southern Frontier, his subordinates were reluctant to accept his authority. Losing control of the negotiations would further diminish his power, which he couldn't allow.
"Both of you, come back here," he snapped.
He then instructed the translator: "Tell Marshal Crow that if he's insincere, the negotiations are over. If he still wishes to negotiate, he must accept my terms."
After the translator conveyed the message, Victor turned to Oliver. Victor's impatience was evident, though he remained guarded.
"Return to the city!" Victor commanded.
Louis and Timothy stepped forward, obstructing Victor.
Louis bowed deeply. "Marshal Crow, Marshal Prince doesn't know Septimus personally and feels no emotional attachment. Therefore, he's unwilling to exchange Simonton City for him. However, Septimus was once our comrade, and we value him greatly. Please allow us a little more time to persuade our marshal."
"If you could persuade him, you would have already done so," Victor said coldly. "And didn't the Hell Monarch make it clear? If you won't exchange Septimus for Simonton City, there's nothing more to discuss."
"No, that's not it," Louis insisted. "His Highness is en route to Simonton City and should arrive within a few days. He values Septimus highly; the situation should improve upon his arrival."
"The Hell Monarch is coming?" Victor scrutinized Louis, noting every subtle expression.
Chapter 544 (continued)
Louis nodded earnestly. "Yes, he'll arrive in a few days."
Timothy approached Oliver to apologize. "Marshal Prince, please be patient. While we've decided to end negotiations, maintaining a façade of continued discussion is crucial. Otherwise, news of our hasty surrender could damage our reputation."
Increasingly suspicious, Oliver pulled Timothy aside. "Tell me the truth. Where is the Hell Monarch now?"
Timothy hesitated. If he was candid, Oliver might resent him, especially since Rafael's mission to rescue Septimus had only been shared with Louis and him, not Oliver.
Timothy could only say, "I'm unsure, but having followed His Highness for three years, I understand him somewhat. He may have gone to Sandoria to rescue Septimus, but he didn't inform us to avoid leaks."
Oliver's anger flared. "If you suspected this, why didn't you tell me?"
Timothy thought to himself that Oliver's emotions were always transparent. If Oliver knew, Victor would easily sense it.
Victor had grown suspicious of Oliver's sudden decisiveness, especially the mention of Rafael. Timothy wondered if Louis could stall him.
Even delaying for an hour or half an hour would buy Rafael more time. Today's negotiation was the best chance for the rescue mission.
"It's just a guess. How could we dare to inform you of something so uncertain?" Timothy said.
Oliver glared, his expression severe. He considered the possibility that it wasn't a guess—that the Hell Monarch was indeed on a rescue mission.
If Rafael succeeded, Starhaven wouldn't need to trade anything with Sandoria or spend a coin. The Hell Monarch would gain even more prestige. Oliver couldn't act against Rafael's plans. Even if he received no substantial reward, he should still benefit somehow.
Softening his tone, Oliver said, "Regardless of whether your guess is correct, we can't take risks. We should delay as long as possible. Let's go. We need to keep Marshal Crow occupied with Simonton City."
Timothy breathed a sigh of relief and followed him.
However, they couldn't delay long. Victor's suspicions were too strong. The moment Oliver mentioned the Hell Monarch, Victor sensed something was amiss.
Victor kept his doubts to himself and continued the conversation for a short time. But seeing Oliver's unconcern and delaying tactics, he decided to end the discussion immediately.
"We're done here. Let's return to the city," Victor said, his patience exhausted by Oliver's superficial demeanor.
If the Hell Monarch was attempting a rescue, it would likely occur during the guard change around midnight. They still had time to return to the city.
He grabbed his cloak and left, followed by his men. They mounted their horses and departed.
Oliver turned to Timothy. "We've done all we could. The rest depends on the Hell Monarch's skills. If the rescue is successful, he'll have accomplished a great feat. If not, we can't be blamed."